Some of the best parenting skills, it turns out, are also some of the best leadership skills. Not to say that your employees are children (whether they may sometimes act like it or not), but that you, as the leader, must figure out how to guide each of your staff members to their highest potential. And sometimes, you need to use the skills of a parent to do it.

E-Dialog, an eBay company, is on the cusp of changing the strategic direction of its business, says its global general manager Simone Barratt. To ensure that the company endures, she says they are making sure to do this one thing.

Openness is part of the DNA at .CO Internet S.A.S., says Lori Anne Wardi, VP and Brand Strategist, and that makes it easier to change strategies when necessary. Here is one thing she says won't change.